YEMENI RESPONSE TO KOMID DEMARCHES

S E C R E T SANAA 000441 NOFORN SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/MTN:JMAYES AND NEA/ARP:AMACDONALD E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2019 TAGS: PARM MTCRE PREL KN YM SUBJECT: YEMENI RESPONSE TO KOMID DEMARCHES REF: A. STATE 19783 ¶B. STATE 11248 ¶C. 08 STATE 43685 Classified By: Ambassador Stephen A. Seche for reapons 1.4 (b),(c),an d (d) ¶1. (C) On March 11 POL/E Chief received a response to ref A, B and C demarches from Nejwa al-Serri, First Secretary in the MFA's Office of the Two Americas. She said that the ROYG is committed to supporting all UNSC resolutions and does not believe that its relationship with North Korea violates any of those resolutions. She added that any cooperation between North Korea and Yemen merely reflects the honoring of existing contracts. Pol/E Chief asked if the ROYG confirms or denies that it is "acquiring technical training, advice, services or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of missiles." She said that her information did not include an answer to that question. POL/E Chief asked who were the "responsible authorities" on this issue and she said that she did not know. ¶2. (S/NF) She said technical questions on this issue should be directed through the DATT to the "security services." Pol/E Chief asked her to clarify to which "security services" queries should be directed. She said that she could not answer officially, but speaking only for herself, she recommended questions be directed to the National Security Bureau (NSB). (Note: Similar demarches have been delivered to the NSB through other channels. Responses received to those demarches will be reported through GRPO channels. End Note.) ¶3. (C) Comment: Serri was clearly delivering a specifically limited message from some other organ of the ROYG and was unable to provide any clarification. Post will pursue this matter through its Office of Military Cooperation with the Chief of Staff of the Yemeni Armed Forces. End Comment. SECHE